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[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title]Liver transplantation as curative approach for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: is it justified?

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is considered as one of therapeutic approaches to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients were treated either with primary tumour resection, transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) or liver transplantation (LTx) by an interdisciplinary team.

RESULTS: The overall 1-year and 5-year survivals of patients in LTx group were 95 and 57%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in primary tumour resection group (65 and 33%, P < 0.01) and those in TACE group (44 and 4%, P < 0.01).

In parallel, 1-year and 5-year tumour-free survivals of patients in LTx group (75 and 62%) were significantly higher than those in primary tumour resection group (50 and 11%, P < 0.01).

There were no significant differences in 1- and 5-year survivals of patients with early tumour stage received LTx or primary tumour resection, whereas patients in advanced tumour stage based on pathological findings of explanted liver significantly benefited from LTx as compared to primary resection.

CONCLUSIONS: LTx can be a curative approach for patients with advanced HCC without extrahepatic metastasis.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Yanshu injection on the combined treatment in the advanced primary liver cancer.

METHOD: Eighty-five cases of advanced primary liver cancer were treated with Yanshu injection combining with chemotherapy or only chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION: Yanshu injection combination with chemotherapy can raise the curative effect, one year survival rate and cellular immune function, reduce pain genesic rate and toxicity of chemotherapy, and improve the quality of life of the patients with advanced primary liver cancer, which is worthy to be recommended for clinical application.

One patient had liver resection without neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy.

One patient underwent in one session a partial liver resection and a low anterior resection.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first sizable report on the "liver-first approach" demonstrating that it may be considered the preferred treatment schedule for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases.

It allows most patients to undergo curative resections of both metastatic and primary disease and can avoid useless rectal surgery in patients with incurable metastatic disease.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection of advanced synchronous liver metastases before treatment of the colorectal primary.

BACKGROUND: In many patients with advanced synchronous liver metastases from colorectal tumours, the metastases progress during treatment of the primary, precluding curative treatment.

The authors have investigated a management strategy that involves high-impact chemotherapy first, resection of liver metastases second and finally removal of the primary tumour in patients with adverse prognostic factors.

Sixteen of the 20 patients had complete removal of liver metastases and colorectal tumours (resectability rate 80 per cent).

It allows initial control and downstaging of liver metastases, and delivery of preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer without the fear that liver metastases will meanwhile progress beyond the possibility of cure.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] [Effect of ganji recipe combined with Fructus Bruceae oil emulsion intervention on quality of life in patients with advanced primary hepatic cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the quality of life (QOL) and survival time in patients with advanced primary hepatic cancer (PHC) after they have been treated by the combination of ganji recipe and interventional therapy with Fructus Bruceae Oil Emulsion (FBE) or by the trans-hepatic arterial chemical embolization (TACE) adopting Seldinger's technique.

METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with advanced PHC were randomly assigned to two groups, 37 patients in the control group treated with TACE alone, and 40 in the treatment group with the combined therapy.

There was significantly statistic difference between both groups in intermediate and advanced staging HCC.

CONCLUSION: The regimen of TACE plus RFA has the advantages of tumor control, liver function protection and survival extending in the treatment of HCC than TACE alone in intermediate or advanced stage HCC.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

We report an investigation of the therapeutic efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with docetaxel (DOC) and doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) administered as second-line or third-line chemotherapy in 23 cases of unresectable and/or advanced gastric cancer.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: Upper abdominal spread of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer is often considered to be a major obstacle to achieve optimal residual disease at the end of surgery.

In this study, we investigate the role of diaphragmatic debulking in the natural history of advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients, and the morbidity of this procedure according to clinico-surgical characteristics.

METHODS: Data from 234 consecutive patients with primary and recurrent advanced ovarian cancer, operated at Catholic University of Rome and Campobasso from January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008, were retrospectively reviewed.

Diaphragmatic debulking was performed in 50 out of 120 patients at primary surgery (41.7%), in 16 out of 74 at interval debulking surgery (21.6%) and in 21 out of 40 secondary cytoreductions (52.5%).

Considering the natural history of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and the rate of patients needing diaphragmatic debulking during primary cytoreduction, interval debulking surgery and secondary cytoreduction, this procedure should be present in the surgical repertoire of a gynecologic oncologist.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

We conducted combined therapy of weekly paclitaxel and doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) for 23 cases of advanced and recurrent gastric carcinomas to investigate their efficacy and safety.

One of the CR cases was an unresectable case involving a primary tumor, liver metastasis, and abdominal lymph node metastasis, while the other was a recurrent case involving abdominal lymph node metastasis.

Combination therapy of weekly paclitaxel and 5'-DFUR can be an effective and safe therapy for advanced and recurrent gastric carcinomas.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

In this report, we retrospectively studied 152 consecutive patients with advanced HCC resistant to TACE using epirubicin, and all cases were treated with platinum derivatives using transcatheter arterial chemotherapy.

A number of molecular-based chemotherapeutic agents are expected to become available in the future, and the primary therapy of advanced stage HCC may change with the introduction of these drugs.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

PURPOSE: The liver is one of the most common sites for metastatic solid tumors.

If the liver is the only site of metastatic disease, regional treatment options can offer the benefit of high local exposure with limited systemic toxicity, especially for patients without (further) systemic treatment options.

We report the results of our experience with isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) in patients with isolated liver metastases from a variety of primary tumors.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

CONCLUSION: Primary hepatic carcinoma with AVS increases difficulty of interventional therapyìbut as long as we take active and proper treating measureìwe could acquire satisfactory curative effect without serious syndrome.

DSA can demonstrate the type, the site and the degree of AVS completely and directly, thus having important value in treating primary hepatic carcinoma and improving prognosis.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

We report an investigation of the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TS-1 single-agent therapy administered as first-line therapy in 23 cases of unresectable advanced gastric cancer treated at our institution.

By site, the response rate was 43.5% for primary tumors (10/23), 33.3% for lymph nodes (3/9), and 16.7% for liver metastasis (1/6).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 267 patients cancer treated between 1997 and 2003 were analyzed.

The lungs and bones were the most common sites of metastases (58% and 33% respectively), whereas metastases to liver (6%) and brain (3%) were rare.

Localization of cancer (glottic vs. supraglottic) and number of positive lymph nodes at pathological staging significantly and independently affected MFS.

CONCLUSIONS: Number of positive lymph nodes in pathological specimen and site of primary cancer (glottic vs. supraglottic) significantly and independently predict a risk of distant metastases in combined modality treatment for laryngeal cancer.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a modified biweekly irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin regimen (modified Douillard regimen) as the first-line therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A total of 80 patients (41 male, 39 female) with recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled between April 2001 and December 2003.

The primary end-point was response rate, and the secondary end-points were time to progression and toxicity profile.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that the modified Douillard regimen may be a practical and more tolerable treatment option in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

BACKGROUND: About 80% of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) experience tumor recurrence or metastasis after a prior radical resection, and the most common metastatic site is the liver.

Imatinib mesylate has been proven to be effective in advanced GIST.

The current pilot study was designed to observe imatinib mesylate treatment for GIST patients who experienced sole liver metastasis after primary tumor resection.

The primary end points were grade 3-4 hematological or non-hematological toxicity and progression-free survival; the secondary end points were response rate and overall survival.

METHOD: Retrospective analysis was performed in 65 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent whole-body FDG-PET.

Liver metastases were present in 22 patients.

CONCLUSION: Preoperative FDG-PET is not superior to MDCT for detection of primary tumour, lymph node involvement or liver metastases, but may have potential clinical value in patients with advanced colorectal cancer by detecting extrahepatic distant metastases.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy through a port-catheter system as preoperative initial therapy in patients with advanced liver dysfunction due to synchronous and unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of preoperative initial hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) through a port-catheter system in patients with liver dysfunction due to synchronous and unresectable liver metastases.

The aim of HAIC was to improve patients' clinical condition for later surgical removal of primary colorectal cancer.

Surgical removal of the primary lesion was planned after HAIC improved the liver function.

HAIC was performed a mean of 4.5 +/- 3.0 times and the liver function improved in all patients.

CONCLUSION: Initial HAIC administration is a safe and efficacious method for improving liver function prior to operative resection of primary colorectal cancer in patients with liver dysfunction due to synchronous and unresectable liver metastases.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the survival status and prognostic factors of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODS: The survival rate and prognostic factors of 112 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, who had complete follow-up data, were retrospectively assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate regression analysis.

But the treatment of primary tumor, time of liver metastasis, gross type of tumor, resection of liver metastases and clinical stage status were all independently related with the prognosis of patients.

Multivariate regression analysis showed that resection of liver metastases, gross type of tumor and clinical stage were key factors affecting the prognosis of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced stage, infiltrative gross type of colorectal cancer should be followed-up closely so that liver metastases from the cancer can be diagnosed and treated early.

Resection of both the primary tumor and liver metastasis may improve survival of the patients.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Outcomes of resection and non-resection strategies in management of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The management of patients with surgically incurable bowel cancer at presentation is controversial.

It has been believed that the most effective palliation is achieved by resection of the primary cancer in order to pre-empt future complications.

This study reviews and compares the outcomes of patients with incurable bowel cancer managed by resection and non-resection strategies over a 7-year period in a single District General Hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with surgically incurable bowel cancer at presentation were identified from the prospectively collected local ACPGBI database.

Survival, using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, was compared between patients managed by resection of the primary, non-resectional intervention (surgery, stent & oncological treatments) and those managed with supportive care only.

The primary endpoint of the study was survival on an intention to treat basis, compared using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests.

RESULTS: Of 646 consecutive newly diagnosed bowel cancer patients over a 7 year period 154 cases (24%) were deemed surgically incurable at presentation.

CONCLUSION: In an unselected bowel cancer population surgical resection of the primary tumour in patients presenting with incurable disease does not improve survival and is associated with a high risk of post-operative mortality.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Phase I study of Tomudex and Doxorubicin in patients with locally advanced, inoperable or metastatic cancer (IND.98).

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this Phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose for Tomudex and Doxorubicin when given in combination to patients with advanced metastatic cancer.

All 4 responding patients and 10 patients with stable disease had gastric cancer.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Continuous Sunitinib treatment in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and Swiss Association for the Study of the Liver (SASL) multicenter phase II trial (SAKK 77/06).

[Title] A triplet chemotherapy with cisplatin, docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase I/II study.

In the phase I portion, a dose escalation study of GEM with starting dose of 400 mg/m(2) was conducted and primary objective in the phase II portion was response rate.

RESULTS: The maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose (RD) of GEM were determined as 800 mg/m(2) because grade 3 non-hematological toxicity (liver damage, diarrhea, and fatigue) developed in three of nine patients evaluated at that dose level.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that this triplet chemotherapy is feasible and effective in patients with advanced NSCLC.

PFR (primary efficacy endpoint) and objective response rate (secondary efficacy endpoint) were evaluated according to RECIST, while the toxic profile of plitidepsin was assessed using the NCI-CTC, version 2.0.

RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with a median age of 61 years and with locally advanced or metastatic non-resectable NSCLC, who had previously received only one line of chemotherapy in an advanced setting, received a total of 54 cycles of treatment (median of two cycles per patient; range: 1-8).

One patient was responder for the primary (PFR at 13+/-1 weeks) and secondary efficacy endpoint (stable disease according to RECIST).

Other two patients were non-responders for the primary efficacy endpoint, but had stable disease (not confirmed at weeks 13+/-1 due to previous withdrawal due to adverse events).

The most common side effects were anemia, and asymptomatic and non-cumulative increases of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and liver transaminase levels.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

BACKGROUND: In patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases, an approach reversing the traditional therapeutic order - i.e. starting with chemotherapy first, doing the liver surgery second, and performing the colorectal surgery last - is theoretically appealing as it avoids the risk of metastatic progression during treatment of the primary tumor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 35 patients with advanced synchronous colorectal metastases and nonobstructive colorectal tumors were treated with the reversed approach.

Five patients could not complete the program (one death from sepsis during chemotherapy, 3 cases of progressive disease under treatment, and one case of vanishing liver metastases).

The remaining 30 patients responded and underwent R0 liver resections with no major complications.

Potential problems, in particular regrowth of vanishing metastases and primary tumors, chemotherapy-associated liver damage, and large bowel obstruction, can be minimized by careful multidisciplinary selection, planning and execution.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Phase II trial of the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib in patients who have advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who had advanced HCC that was not amenable to surgical or regional therapies, up to one prior systemic treatment; Childs-Pugh score A or B liver function; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0, 1, or 2 received B 10 mg/kg every 14 days and E 150 mg orally daily, continuously, for 28-day cycles.

This study could identify the differentiated miRNAs expression profile in BC and reveal that miR-21 overexpression was correlated with specific breast cancer biopathologic features, such as advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor survival of the patients, indicating that miR-21 may serve as a molecular prognostic marker for BC and disease progression.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Given the necessity of increasing their resectability, there are evaluated the possibilities of surgical treatment for these types of hepatic cancer, in the context of dominant clinical presence of advanced hepatic tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study comprises 190 patients during 01.01.2000-31.12.2007, in the IIIrd Surgical Clinic, Iaşi, with primary and secondary hepatic tumors.

[Title] Evaluation of the efficacy of combined continuous arterial infusion and systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODS: CTAI was performed in 17 patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer with (n = 11) or without (n = 6) liver metastasis.

Treatment effects were evaluated based on the primary tumor size, liver metastasis, and survival time and factors such as tumor size, tumor location, and stage of pancreatic carcinoma; the embolized arteries were analyzed with respect to treatment effects and prognosis.

CT showed a decrease in tumor size in 6 of 17 (35%) patients and a decrease in liver metastases in 6 of 11 (55%) patients.

CONCLUSION: In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, long-term CTAI with systemic chemotherapy appeared to be effective not only against the primary tumor but also against liver metastases.

A Phase II trial was conducted to study a combination of oral capecitabine and gemcitabine (CapGem) as first-line therapy in patients with advanced and/or metastatic biliary carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS: CapGem is an active and well tolerated first-line combination chemotherapy regimen for patients with advanced/metastatic biliary tract carcinoma that offers a convenient home-based therapy.

We investigated in a selected patient cohort local control of liver metastasis from CRC using robotic radiosurgery.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this study patients with colorectal liver metastases were prospectively followed after having been treated with single-session radiosurgery using a robotic image-guided device and real-time tumour tracking.

The primary end-point was local control (LC); secondary end-points were toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Follow up was done by liver MRI every 3 months post-treatment.

RESULTS: Fourteen patients (median age 65 years), with a total of 19 colorectal liver metastases were treated with 24 Gy in one fraction.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Multicentric parallel phase II trial of the polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor BI 2536 in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma. The first protocol of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Network Of Core Institutes (NOCI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced head and neck, breast and ovarian cancer, soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma were selected according to protocol-defined general and tumour-specific criteria.

They were 18years old, had a good performance status, adequate bone marrow, renal and liver function, measurable progressive disease and had completed other relevant systemic treatments >4weeks ago.

The rate of objective responses (RECIST criteria) was chosen as primary end-point.

RESULTS: Seventy six patients were included, 71 started treatment and received a median number of two cycles (four in ovarian cancer).

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical significance of hepatic parenchymal metastasis on survival in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of ovarian cancer patients with stages IIIc and IV hepatic parenchymal metastasis who were treated at the National Cancer Center in Korea between January 2001 and January 2008.

METHODS: Patients with tumorous lesions to the liver, not qualifying for surgery, were treated with single-session radiosurgery (24 Gy) that used robotic image-guided real-time tumor tracking.

Four lesions were of primary liver origin (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma).

CONCLUSIONS: Robotic radiosurgery with image-guided real-time tumor tracking of liver neoplasm is a new and promising approach for patients with disease that is not eligible for surgical resection and might enhance the possibilities of multidisciplinary oncological treatment concepts.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of synchronous colorectal liver metastasis in patients referred to a tertiary referral center in Sri Lanka and to evaluate the differences in the clinicopathological features of patients with and without synchronous metastasis.

In the two groups macroscopic features compared were: tumor size (2 cm, 2-5 cm, and >5 cm), site of primary tumor and side of liver involved.

RESULTS: The rectum was the primary site of the tumor in a majority (60%) of patients.

There was no difference in the distribution of the primary site and size of the tumor, pathological stage, lymphatic infiltration and the degree of tumor differentiation in two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of synchronous colorectal liver metastasis seems to be lower in our patients.

Association of higher CEA level, advanced nodal stage and presence of vascular invasion needs to be further assessed with risk of developing metachronous liver metastasis.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

A contemporaneous presentation of a second breast cancer in a mother and an extremity rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in her daughter led to the diagnosis of the Li Fraumeni syndrome (LFS).

After reviewing the literature about the natural history of the LFS 2, the incidence of second malignancy (SMN) in RMS survivors 3-6 and the management of extremity RMS 7-9, we are concerned that contemporary RMS treatment, combining non-mutilating surgery with chemoradiotherapy, may be associated with an excessive SMN risk in LFS patients with advanced RMS.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

We evaluated whether targeting Bcl-2 using an antisense oligonucleotide (oblimersen sodium) could improve the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly assigned chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced melanoma to treatment with dacarbazine (1,000 mg/m2) alone or preceded by a 5-day continuous intravenous infusion of oblimersen sodium (7 mg/kg/d) every 3 weeks for up to eight cycles.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Initial and late resistance to imatinib in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors are predicted by different prognostic factors: a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Italian Sarcoma Group-Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group study.

This study is based on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Italian Sarcoma Group-Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group randomized trial comparing two doses of imatinib in advanced disease.

RESULTS: Initial resistance was recorded for 116 (12%) of 934 assessable patients and was independently predicted by the presence of lung and absence of liver metastases, low hemoglobin level, and high granulocyte count.

Among 818 patients who were alive and progression free at 3 months, 347 subsequent progressions were recorded, and late resistance was independently predicted by high baseline granulocyte count, primary tumor outside of the stomach, large tumor size, and low initial imatinib dose.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Clinical benefit of fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer and primary or acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors: final results of phase II Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research Trial (SAKK 21/00).

RESULTS: All patients were pretreated with AI and 84% also with tamoxifen or toremifene; 67% had bone metastases and 45% liver metastases.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] [Postoperative radiotherapy for primary intraosseous carcinoma of the jaws].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indication, location and dose of postoperative radiotherapy for primary intraosseous carcinoma (PIOC) of the jaws.

METHODS: From October 1969 to November 2005, 13 patients with PIOC were treated at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

RESULTS: All of the 13 cases in our series had advanced disease, and overall 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rats were 59.2%, 33.8% and 12.7% , respectively.

It seemed that surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy could not improve the survival of PIOC patients with involvement of adjacent soft-tissues or positive neck nodes or partial excision of primary tumor when compared with surgery alone, if the bias of selection in the patients for postoperative radiotherapy was neglected.

CONCLUSION: Postopreative radiotherapy may improve the survival for the patient with primary intraosseous carcinoma of the jaws.

Our suggestion is that postoperative radiotherapy should be applied to the patient with any of the following items: positive operative margin; tumor involvement of adjacent soft-tissues; positive neck nodes; partial excision of primary tumor.

To compare protein expression of metastasis-related genes (nm23, KISS1, KAI1 and p53) between primary tumours and metastatic tumours may be useful in illustrating these theories.

The protein expression of nm23, KISS1, KAI1 and p53 in lymph node and liver metastases from advanced gastric cancer specimens was mainly examined by immunohistochemical staining in relation to primary tumours.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Multiple primary malignancies--epidemiological analysis at a single tertiary institution.

BACKGROUND: A literature review on 1,104 269 cancer patients concluded that the prevalence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) is between 0.73% and 11.7%.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinically useful information for effective screening for synchronous and metachronous second primary cancers and to identify a potential surveillance protocol.

Both primary and secondary tumors tended to be in an advanced stage explained by the low compliance of the patients to follow-up.

Screening procedures are especially useful for the early detection of associated tumors, whereas careful monitoring of patients treated for primary cancer and a good communication between patients and medical care team would ensure an early detection for secondary tumors, and, subsequently, an appropriate management.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Thymostimulin is a thymic peptide fraction with immune-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and palliative efficacy in advanced HCC in two independent phase II trials.

5x/week or placebo stratified according to liver function.

A subgroup analysis according to liver function, KPS and tumor stage (Okuda, CLIP and BCLC) formed part of the protocol.

Adjustment for liver function, Karnofsky status or tumor stage did not affect results.

CONCLUSIONS: In our phase III trial, we found no evidence of any benefit to thymostimulin in the treatment of advanced HCC and there is therefore no justification for its use as single-agent treatment.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Pazopanib, a multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor, in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II study from the European organisation for research and treatment of cancer-soft tissue and bone sarcoma group (EORTC study 62043).

PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with intermediate- or high-grade advanced STS who were ineligible for chemotherapy or who had received no more than two prior cytotoxic agents for advanced disease, who had documented progression, who had adequate performance status, and who had good organ function were eligible.

The primary end point was progression-free rate at 12 weeks (PFR(12 weeks)).

Compared with historical controls who were treated with second-line chemotherapy, progression-free and overall survivals were prolonged in the three cohorts in which the primary end point was reached.

Other toxicities included liver enzyme elevations, myelosuppression, and proteinuria, all of which were mostly grades 1 to 2.

CONCLUSION Pazopanib is well tolerated in patients with relapsed, advanced STS and demonstrates interesting activity that warrants additional study in patients with leiomyosarcomas, synovial sarcomas, and other STS types.

BACKGROUND: Disease progression of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in patients eligible for liver transplantation (LTx) occurs in up to 50% of patients, resulting in withdrawal from the LTx waiting list.

Evaluation of time-to-progression as primary endpoint (TTP) will be performed at 120 events.

DISCUSSION: As TACE is the most widely used primary treatment of HCC before LTx and sorafenib is the only proven effective systemic treatment for advanced HCC there is a strong rational to combine both treatment modalities.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Radical cystectomy for primary neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder: the university of southern california experience.

PURPOSE: Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder are rare and they include small and large cell variants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1971 to June 2004, 2,005 patients underwent radical cystectomy for primary bladder cancer at our institution, of whom 25 (1.2%) had neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder, including small cell carcinoma in 20 and large cell carcinoma in 5.

A total of 19 patients (76%) had lymph node involvement, of whom 2 had small liver metastases found intraoperatively, while only 4 (16%) had organ confined tumors and 2 (8%) had extravesical, node negative disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder usually present with advanced pathological stage and portend a poor prognosis.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Hand-assisted laparoscopic management of liver tumors.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy has clearly advanced the treatment of many diseases related to the liver and biliary tree.

The addition of hand assistance can further facilitate minimally invasive liver surgery by providing tactile feedback, atraumatic and versatile retraction, finger-fracture parenchyma dissection, and more precise placement of probes and staplers.

The candidates for hand-assisted laparoscopic resection were patients with lesions involving two hepatic segments or fewer located at the inferior edge of the liver (segments 5 and 6), or confined to the left lateral segment (segments 2 and 3).

A total of 19 patients (68%) had metastatic disease, and 3 (11%) had primary liver cancer.

A group of 15 patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer treated with resection and/or ablation had a mean follow-up period of 24 months (range, 2-61 months) and a mean survival time of 36 months.

CONCLUSIONS: For selected patients, the hand-assisted technique can be applied safely and effectively to laparoscopic liver surgery and may identify the presence of previously undetectable intrahepatic or extrahepatic disease.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

A phase II trial, using neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intraperitoneal (IP) consolidation, was conducted in patients with locally advanced, potentially resectable gastric cancer or cancer of the gastroesophageal junction, both staged as T3N0, T4N0, or any TN1 or TN2 disease.

Evidence of primary-tumor downstaging was documented in at least one half of the patients.

Sites of first recurrences were outside the abdominal cavity in seven patients, in the liver in two, and in the abdominal cavity in four patients.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

METHODS: Patients with advanced HCC who were not candidates for local therapy were eligible and randomly assigned to receive weekly intramuscular injections of ADI-PEG 20 at doses of 160 or 320 IU m(-2).

The primary end point was disease-control rate (DCR).

CONCLUSIONS: ADI-PEG 20 is safe and efficacious in stabilising the progression of heavily pretreated advanced HCC in an Asian population, and deserves further exploration.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Cancer cells with a high glycolytic rate have an advantage in tumor growth.

HKII mRNA was overexpressed in 70 (35%) primary HCCs.

In conclusion, the aberrant expression of ALDOB and HKII is associated with advanced disease, ETR and poor prognosis, and ALDOB down-regulation in stage II HCC is a predictive marker of ETR and an unfavorable outcome.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] A phase II study of bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel in locally advanced and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

This phase II study was undertaken to determine the effects of adding bevacizumab to a regimen of docetaxel and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease and a performance status (PS) of 0-1 were eligible for this study.

The primary end point of the study was progression-free survival (PFS).

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical resection is the only available treatment that improves survival in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, particularly when carried out by a multidisciplinary team.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of 116 patients who underwent 138 liver resections (65.4% minor and 35.5% major) for hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer between 1998 and 2004.

In 67.3% of the patients, the primary tumor was at an advanced stage (III-IV).

Survival rates varied according to whether the patients had < 4 or > or = 4 colorectal liver metastases (50 and 43 months respectively), tumor size (more or less than 5 cm) (60 and 50.6 months respectively) and whether the site was monolobar or bilobar (60 and 43.11 months respectively).

In 16 patients, recurrence of liver metastases led to 22 rehepatectomies.

CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that multidisciplinary decisions and interventions by specialist liver surgeons, as in our hospital, reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality and increase survival in patients requiring surgical removal of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODS: All patients with stage IIIC epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinoma who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery at our institution from 1989 to 2005 were eligible for the study.

These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive training, preparation, and referral when appropriate to centers that specialize in the surgical management of patients with advanced ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal carcinoma.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

AIM: Approximately 25% of the patients with colorectal cancer already have liver metastases at diagnosis and another 30% will develop them subsequently.

The features and prognosis of patients with synchronous and metachronus colorectal liver metastases, treated with primary resection first followed by partial liver resection were analysed.

METHOD: Curative staged resection of liver metastases was performed in 272 consecutive patients.

Demographics, characteristics of the primary tumour and metastatic tumours, surgery-related data and outcome were analysed.

More patients in the synchronous group had an advanced primary tumour (T3/T4 and/or node positivity), more than three liver metastases and bilobar distribution.

CONCLUSION: Although patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases may have poorer biological features, there was no difference in 5-year disease-free and overall survival compared with patients with metachronous metastases.

Positive staining was observed in all metastatic lesions tested as well as in the primary colorectal carcinoma tissues.

CONCLUSION: The subcellular staining pattern of KL-6 in colorectal adenocarcinoma may be an important indicator for unfavorable behaviors such as lymph node and liver metastasis, as well as for the prognosis of patients.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Clinical and imaging experience with yttrium-90 microspheres in the management of unresectable liver tumours.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: From June 2004, patients whose liver tumours were no longer amenable for any conventional treatment with either chemotherapy or surgery were considered for yttrium-90 microspheres treatment after discussion at our multidisciplinary meeting.

[Source] The source of this record is MEDLINE®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Title] Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgery in gastric cancer (GC) aims to achieve resection of the primary tumor and its lymphatic drain, with a minimal adverse effect on morbidity and mortality, and the best possible quality of life.

After peritoneal cavity inspection, laparoscopic ultrasound was used to determine the presence of deep liver metastasis.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a safe and effective option for the treatment of GC, avoiding nontherapeutic laparotomy in patients with advanced disease.